Corzine starts speaking; Dow\’s off 181 points

The start of ex-MF Global CEO Jon Corzine\’s filmed testimony to Congress about the sudden failure of the former brokerage and trade clearinghouse is coinciding with a steep drop in U.S. stocks to session lows.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA fell more than 180 points before paring a bit, to a loss of 163 points.

Two random events, most likely. Though it\’s hardly a boost to sentiment to hear — from a formerly lionized banker in a financial system severely dented by Lehman Bros-type implosions and Bernie Madoff fraud — that he still doesn\’t know where MF Global clients\’ missing millions went and that he was \”stunned\” when the bankrupt firm couldn\’t account for the money. Read more on Madoff testimony.

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